Well, that didn't take long. The 2026 Masters Par 3 Contest was just getting started when Justin Thomas knocked in the day's first ace on Hole No. 2.Thomas was playing in the first group of the day off the tee, one that included fellow Americans Max Homa and Jordan Spieth. His knockdown wedge hit the green, bounced three times and spun back into the cup. Thomas then turned to his playing partners and immediately flashed what appeared to be money signs with his hands. He seemed to confirm that there was a wager involved when ESPN's Scott Van Pelt asked about his reaction moments after the ace.What a way to start the Par 3 Contest. Hole-in-one for Justin Thomas on No. 2. #themasterspic.twitter.com/HHx7hFP73A The Masters (@TheMasters) April 8, 2026"I probably enjoyed that shot a lot more than Jordan and Max did. Maybe 1,000 times more than they did," Thomas quipped.This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Justin Thomas aces second hole of 2026 Masters Par 3 Contest

You can try to learn every shot, try to hit every putt, but come Thursday it will be a totally new experience.

And breathe.

The decision comes just months after Stroud, the 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year, suffered a disastrous end to the NFL season in the playoffs.

A fire broke out Wednesday morning at Rio de Janeiro's Olympic Park velodrome, prompting a major emergency response involving about 80 firefighters and 20 vehicles, authorities said.Rio state military fire department said the blaze was under control and largely confined to the venues fabric roof. There have been no reported injuries, and the interior of the building including the Olympic Museum remained untouched.While the cause of this latest incident is currently under investigation, the facility has a history of roof fires. Two similar blazes occurred in 2017, both caused by falling paper sky lanterns.Since hosting track cycling during the 2016 Summer Games, the Velodrome has served as a primary training base for Brazils national cycling and weightlifting teams.___Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange impressed NFL teams at his campus workout, showing that he has recovered from a quadriceps injury.Orange is also set to visit the Buffalo Bills, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears. Hes regarded by NFL teams as a classic, space-eating anchor in the middle of the defense.Orange, nicknamed Big Citrus, is scheduled to visit the Texans at NRG Stadium, per a league source.The Texans attended his Pro Day workout and helped run the drills.Orange (6-foot-2, 322 pounds) was a third-team All-Big 12 Conference selection last season.He had a 5.1 40-yard dash and bench pressed 225 pounds 27 times at his Pro Day.Orange had 18 tackles last season, starting every game.The Kansas City native had 24 tackles, 4 1/2 for losses and a sack as a junior.Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com

Leicester City's bid to overturn their six-point penalty has been rejected, dealing a significant blow to the struggling Foxes as they battle against the drop.An independent appeal board upheld the sanction imposed for breaching English Football League profit and sustainability regulations, leaving the 2016 Premier League champions languishing in 22nd position in the Championship.The club now find themselves a single point adrift of safety with just five fixtures remaining this campaign.Portsmouth, sitting directly above them in the table, also possess a match in hand, making Leicester's predicament all the more precarious as the season enters its final stretch.The punishment was originally handed down in February by an independent commission, causing Leicester to plummet from 17th to 20th in the standings.The breach relates to the club's profit and sustainability position during the three-year period ending June 2024, when they were competing in the second tier during the 2023-24 campaign.Leicester had contested that their case ought to have been assessed over 36 months rather than 37, owing to a delay in filing their annual accounts.However, the commission determined the relevant period was indeed 36 months, during which the club exceeded the EFL's 83m spending limit by 20.8m.The club acknowledged the appeal board's ruling in a statement released this afternoon.We acknowledge that an independent Commissions decision to recommend a six-point deduction on the Club has been upheld by an independent Appeal Board.The decision, accepted by the Club, relates to our profit and sustainability position for the three-year period to June 2024. Leicester City (@LCFC) April 8, 2026 "With the matter now at an end and five games of the season remaining, everyone at the club is fully focused on the matches in front of us and on shaping the outcome of our season through our results on the pitch," Leicester said.The statement continued: "We know this has been a challenging period, and we thank our supporters for the backing they continue to give the team."Leicester emphasised that their remaining fixtures must be approached with the necessary focus and determination that their current circumstances require.The failed appeal arrives amid a wretched run of form that has seen Leicester secure victory in merely one of their previous 12 matches across all competitions.The Foxes lodged their appeal just two weeks after the initial sanction, doing so less than 24 hours following the appointment of Gary Rowett as interim head coach until the season's conclusion.Their decline since the points deduction has been stark, with the club now facing the very real prospect of consecutive relegations.Having lifted the Premier League trophy in that remarkable 2016 campaign, Leicester could soon find themselves competing in League One.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

The animal charity says it has been forced to refute that an image of the dogs was AI-generated.

Am 32. Spieltag reist Hansa Rostock zum SC Verl. NDR 1 Radio MV bertrgt das Spiel in einer Audio-Vollreportage.[mehr]

CORPUS CHRISTI - Learn from future Houston Astros stars at the Hooks Baseball Camp, presented by Reliant, June 17-19 and July 8-10 at Whataburger Fiel... - TL Corpus Christi Hooks